This section will help you understand what animals can carry which parasites and diseases commonly or you might be concerned about, how to know what to look for, how to avoid spreading animal diseases or parasites to your family or pets or other wildlife, and what you can do to safely prepare wild foods for consumption.

The easiest way to look up information is by
host species or by disease. You may also be interested in learning about some of the diseases of concern to Alaskans and Alaska's wildlife resources These are diseases that are making the news – either because they have already been detected in Alaska or because scientists are doing surveillance for them here.

Wildlife Disease and Parasites in the News

Tularemia

2015-2016 Seabird Die-off

There is an ongoing starvation event involving mainly Common murres. Many hundreds of sick and dead seabirds have been reported since March but has increased recently due to winter storms and the continuing severe El Nino event. Murres have been reported up rivers into the Talkeetna area. The birds are apparently starving due to the warm ocean and storms have brought them off course. Many have been examined by the National Wildlife Health Center and no single disease or toxin has been found. Any new reports of more than 5 freshly dead or dying birds at one time are directed to the Sick and Dead Bird Hotline 1-866-527-3358.

USFWS factsheet "Alaska Seabird Die-off" provides current information and includes contact information for public reporting of dead seabirds.